June 03, 2009The Comfy Outdoor Research Exped Downmat 7

At the beginning of the summer camping season, we usually spend a lot of time shopping for a tent and sleeping bag, but there’s nothing better than a good ground mattress to ensure we are comfortable after a long day of outdoor activities.

New Outdoor Research Downmat Pump

For many years, we’d grown accustomed to sleeping on our good old dependable foam mats. Then, a couple of years ago, Therm-a-rest revolutionized ground mats by presenting us with self-inflating mattresses. This year, the Outdoor Research Company has come out with an improved version of their Downmat. What is a Downmat? Essentially, it is an air chamber mattress. These chambers are filled with goose down (700-fill). But why down? Simply because it’s the best insulation on the market! Your mattress therefore insolates you from the ground (humidity, cold), summer as well as in winter, all the while remaining compact. In terms of its compressibility, it compares quite closely to self-inflating mats. Since it is divided into air chambers, it is much more comfortable than a foam or self-inflatable mattress. Just thinking about having to inflate an air mattress can be exhausting! (No matter how in-shape you think you are!) But don’t worry; Outdoor Research has integrated a pump into the mattress! Marvelous, isn’t it? All you have to do is use one hand to give a couple of pumps and presto!

So what do I think of it? Honestly, once you’ve tried a Downmat, you’ll never want to go back to self-inflating

Outdoor Research Downmat Mattress

mattresses again. The level of comfort is far superior. The only compromise you will have to make is in terms of its compressibility, but even so, there isn’t much of a difference. The integrated pump system works a lot better than the older version, takes less time, and is much less demanding. The only negative aspect is the price. It’s a little expensive, but well justified by the pump and the down. We’re talking about $145 to $175 depending on the model and mattress size. I can already hear your raised voices telling me that it must be fragile, that it probably breaks easily! Honestly, it’s a really simple system (pump) and Outdoor Research offers a lifetime satisfaction guaranty, one of the best in the industry. So… every devoted camper should consider this little luxury, thus guarantying a good night’s sleep.
I await your comments and/or questions. If not, we’ll be seeing each other again soon when I bring you yet another revue on what’s new this season in the world of the outdoors. Sleep well…

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